could never find
her.'

As the days went on, the Queen and the little Princess grew thinner and
thinner, for their hard-hearted gaoler gave them every day only three
boiled peas and a tiny morsel of black bread, so they were always
terribly hungry. At last, one evening, as the Queen sat at her
spinning-wheel--for the King was so avaricious that she was made to work
day and night--she saw a tiny, pretty little mouse creep out of a hole,
and said to it:

'Alas, little creature! what are you coming to look for here? I only
have three peas for my day's provision, so unless you wish to fast you
must go elsewhere.'

But the mouse ran hither and thither, and danced and capered so
prettily, that at last the Queen gave it her last pea, which she was
keeping for her supper, saying: 'Here, little one, eat it up; I have
nothing better to offer you, but I give this willingly in return for the
amusement I have had from you.'

She had hardly spoken when she saw upon the table a delicious little
roast partridge, and two dishes of preserved fruit. 'Truly,' said she,
'a kind action never goes unrewarded; 'and she and the little Princess
ate their supper with great satisfaction, and then the Queen gave what
was left to the little mouse, who danced better than ever afterwards.
The next morning came the gaoler with the Queen's allowance of three
peas, which he brought in upon a large dish to make them look smaller;
but as soon as he set it down the little mouse came and ate up all
three, so that when the Queen wanted her dinner there was nothing left
for her. Then she was quite provoked, and said:

'What a bad little beast that mouse must be! If it goes on like this I
shall be starved.' But when she glanced at the dish again it was covered
with all sorts of nice things to eat, and the Queen made a very good
dinner, and was gayer than usual over it. But afterwards as she sat at
her spinning-wheel she began to consider what would happen if the little
Princess did not grow up pretty enough to please the King, and she said
to herself:

'Oh! if I could only think of some way of escaping.'

As she spoke she saw the little mouse playing in a corner with some long
straws. The Queen took them and began to plait them, saying:

'If only I had straws enough I would make a basket with them, and let
my baby down in it from the window to any kind passer-by who would take
care of her.'

By the time the straws were all plaited the little mouse